Chapter 65: A day of shopping

The sun rose again, and a new day began brilliantly, illuminating all the busy streets of the Duchy. Strax and Samira walked hand in hand, side by side, enjoying the fresh air as they ventured through the city.

"Why do you think Xenovia canceled her training today?" Samira asked as she looked at the streets filled with merchants, artisans, and adventurers of all kinds.

"I don't know, she's not someone who cancels commitments so easily," Strax said, observing the diversity of people and goods that truly captivated him.

"What exactly are we doing here? And why did I come with you? I thought you'd want to spend time with Beatrice," Samira said, looking at a merchant selling small jade vases. "We need some training tools, and you have more experience than I do in shopping and battles, so it's the perfect task for you, Little Fire," Strax said, smiling. She pouted slightly, "Hmph! Alright.

And we need to get some things for the house, it still feels a bit empty," she huffed.

Over time, they passed by various stalls, tents, and large shops, each displaying a wide range of tools and different trinkets. Eventually, Samira spotted something.

"Look, that store seems interesting," she pointed to a large shop with a variety of armored mannequins and hanging swords, as well as training equipment like gloves and some polishing artifacts. Strax decided to follow his excited companion. "Alright, let's take a look."

As they approached, they were greeted by a middle-aged woman who was truly beautiful, with a warm smile on her face. "Welcome! My name is Liora! Can I help you find something specific?" They looked at each other, a bit startled by the charming saleswoman, who was really different from the others they had visited earlier.

"We're looking for tools to aid in training and cultivation," Strax spoke first, taking the lead. He glanced at the displayed weapons and equipment, "Mainly something to help with hand-to-hand combat."

Liora smiled and nodded. "You've come to the right place. We have a wide variety of training equipment. Wooden swords, weights, practice targets... everything you might need."

As Liora showed them the different items, Strax and Samira tried out some of them. Strax picked up a well-balanced wooden sword, while Samira chose a set of adjustable weights that could be used as weighted cuffs for training body control, something that caught Strax's eye. He wanted to get better accustomed to and train at the same time, so he really had come to the right place.

"Why don't you have a little training duel right here?" Liora suggested, with a sparkle in her eyes. "Are you sure? I wouldn't want to break anything before buying it..." Strax said, but Liora just smiled, "It's always good to test the equipment before buying, isn't it? If they break, it means they aren't good enough."

Strax and Samira exchanged glances, both smiling at the idea. "Why not?" Samira said, positioning herself with the weights on her hands and feet.

They moved to an open area near the shop, where there was enough space for a duel. Liora and some curious passersby stopped to watch.

After several hours of exploring, they decided to return home, having bought some weapons, jewelry, and sweets throughout the day. It was something they hadn't expected to do, as the simple task of buying training equipment had turned into a rather fun outing. As they walked back, Strax reflected on how the day had been...

"What a calm day... more days should be like this," he thought, looking at his finger and seeing the ring he had acquired, feeling a certain curiosity about it. "I'll need to see a master craftsman to see if he can tell me more about this ring, maybe it's a talisman or a rare enchantment," he thought, continuing to walk while holding Samira's hand.

"It was a good day," he said, looking at Samira. "We needed this."

"Yes... I never thought I'd walk hand in hand and go shopping with someone... it's really a new experience," Samira said with a shy smile. "You'll still have many new experiences, don't worry," Strax said, and they continued to walk in silence, enjoying each other's presence without any outside interruptions.

When they arrived home, Strax helped Samira carry the small items they had bought. "We'll try out these training tools another time since Xenovia will probably ask you to come back for training tomorrow. Leave them with Monica and let her know about Liora's delivery," she said, and Strax agreed. Xenovia would likely disrupt his moments with his wives, so it was better to wait until all that was over.

"Agreed," Samira responded. "And maybe we can use the new jewelry for a special night soon." She smiled, "Oh, what are you planning, huh?" Strax questioned while hugging her from behind, holding her waist. "I'm not telling you," she said as he turned her around and planted a passionate kiss on her lips...

*Smooch*

Strax laughed. "I like the idea," he said, pulling back from the kiss. "Impulsive as always. Should I punish you?" Samira asked, and Strax whispered in her ear, "Like in the bathroom?" Samira had a brief flashback and turned completely red, pushing him away. "Cheeky," she said, turning her face.

And again, another tiring day came to an end. The night filled the skies and the mansion. They went inside and settled in the living room, sharing some bread and sweets they had bought at the market while discussing the various problems that could arise...

But in the distance...

"He seems like an interesting man," a female voice echoed from the darkness of a rooftop of one of the houses.

"Master, I..." the kneeling male voice tried to speak but was interrupted. "It's okay, it's my fault for not being more responsible. I should have checked better and sent the best by your side. That man is strong, very strong. The duel he had... he almost surpassed a cultivator several levels above him.

Samira Blaze is by his side as a lover... He is not ordinary. We'll observe a bit longer."

"Yes..."